I'm planning a trip to Ireland where I would fly into Shannon and eventually drop off the car and fly out of Dublin. I want to see the Boyne Valley (Trim and the tombs) along with spending a couple of days in Dublin. I'd like peoples thoughts on where and when is the best time to lose the car. Most companies seem to have multiple drop off sites in the Dublin area but I have no idea where they are.
Any suggestions for these last few days in Ireland would be appreciated.
I agree with Carroll. The airport is easy to get to, right off the highway, and most companies have drop off charges for their other sites, too, so you're not really saving any money.
Definitely lose the car first thing. Drop it off at the airport and take the bus, either Dublin Bus (more of stops, not always good luggage storage space), or Aircoach (more expensive, but worth it because it has less stops and you stow your luggage in the under bus storage compartment). Buy your ticket at the Dublin Tourism counter at the airport (you might be able to buy one at the bus, but sometimes it gets full fast). You can get info on mini-bus day trips to the Boyne Valley there, and you might be able to book one as well.
AirCoach will take you to the City Centre - one of the stops is in front of Trinity College. I think you can catch a Dublin Bus from there if you need to get closer to your hotel/hostel (or stay at the College, if it's summer).
When you get situated in Dublin, you can also go to the Tourism Office (near the college) to book a day trip to the Boyne Valley.
For a couple of days in Dublin city, try a Musical Pub Crawl or a Literary Pub Crawl one evening - they're fun, informative, and they get you into crowded, popular pubs when you might not otherwise be able to find a seat. During the day, try the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour; A Historical Walking Tour; A tour of Trinity College, or just see the Book of Kells (if the line isn't a mile long); Walk down Grafton Street to get to St. Stephen's Green for a stroll through the park; If you don't go on the 1916 tour, at least try to get to the General Post Office and/or Kilmainham Gaol (Jail).
Skip the Guinness Storehouse tour (too Hollywood/Disneyfied/commercialized/noisy for me), unless you pay admission for a tour but just take the elevator to the bar at the top for a free pint and a 360 view of the city. (Worth it if you have the time.)
There's so much more... Try http://www.hidden-dublin.com
If you can do it at the airport, I'd go for that. Easy transportation into the city. Driving in Dublin is NO FUN, so I would avoid that at all costs.
